Dunedin Murals: What You Need to Know About the City Murals

When someone mentions Dunedin, inevitably thoughts turn to the town’s art scene. It’s many galleries, the Fine Arts Center, and the art festivals. Now Dunedin murals invoke the town’s past as well its current identity as an eclectic, artsy place which welcomes everyone. It’s just another part of Dunedin’s growing art scene.

City murals have become popular lately. Cities like Nashville, Miami, and Lisbon have thriving sections which showcase murals and draw thousands of visitors all vying for a great photo in front of a mural. Art murals “create a tangible sense of place, destination, resulting in increased foot traffic while adding color, vibrancy, and character to urban environment. Murals contrast the negative mental health effects of concrete and asphalt, and can have therapeutic benefits for mentally-ill and homeless populations,” according to Community Rejuvenation Project. They offer accessibility to art and artwork, and because (by nature) they incorporate architectural elements harmoniously into the design, they create an eye-pleasing environment.

Though many murals are new to Dunedin, Dunedin is no stranger to street art, public art, or murals. If you’ve lived here or vacationed here over the past decade or so, you have probably noticed the increase of some of the town’s first forms of street art – the Dunedin oranges and the dogs. Both are now a hallmark of Dunedin and can be found throughout the downtown area. The oranges decorate commercial and residential buildings all over town.

Murals for Mutts

One of our my favorite murals in Dunedin is the Welcome to Dogedin mural. This one started on the side of Skip’s Bar and Grill and has now grown around the back of the building. Created by Murals for Mutts, the dog murals found around Dunedin depict real dogs, and other pets. These murals now grace the sides of other buildings in the town – the side of The Living Room and Stirling Wine, for example.

Murals for Mutts is a non-profit that raises money and awareness for animal welfare. Anyone can have their beloved pet painted on one of the mural sites. The cost depends on the size of the animal.

Stirling Commons Murals

The courtyard between the buildings at Stirling Commons features a number of art installations, including several murals, such as the Dunedin Brand mural on Rosie’s Tavern’s patio. Across the courtyard, the two story building is covered in murals (below), including the butterfly, the hexagon, flowers, and the back showing a boy painting on the wall.

The Taco Baby taco stand was once an ATM machine, Converted into a tiny taco stand, the building is also a work of art with the mural painted across the entire building.

No city with murals is complete without an angel wings mural for IG photos. Want to find these in Dunedin? Step to the back of restaurant, Crown and Bull. While there, enjoy the open air patio and delicious food. It’s one of the best restaurants in Dunedin for breakfast or for evening drinks, appetizers, and live music.

Some of the murals around Dunedin require looking away from the normal sidewalks and other places you’d typically find them. Like the one below that appears to depict a native warrior beside a fallen woman. I found this one behind a building on Main Street.

Other Dunedin Murals in the Downtown Area

The corner of Main Street and Highland Avenue showcases a couple of gorgeous, and popular, murals. One is the famous Pisces octobus on the side of Pisces Sushi (below). The other is the Murals for Mutts installation on the side of the restaurant, The Living Room.

While out hunting for large murals, I’m always tickled to see all the places where I can find oranges. What started as a “Welcome to Dunedin” mural by artist, Steve Spathelf, led to hundreds of oranges painted on buildings throughout the city. I’ve seen them on walls, commercial buildings, municipal buildings, and private residences. It’s fun to keep a look out for the now-famous oranges.

Dunedin Oranges

The side of the Institute for Creative Arts features this lovely sunset scene (below). It spans the entire side of the building. A dumpster parked in the middle of the mural blocks taking a photo of the entire scene. On the front of the Institute hangs the Sol Woman painting. Though not a mural, strictly speaking, it’s still a lovely painting and deserves a place among the Dunedin murals.

Murals in Dunedin Near the Pinellas Trail

The Artisan Apartments is another building which has several murals on it. Though each is very different than the others – Mother Earth; a Hexagon column which reminds me of the game, Q-bert; and the digital-inspired mural beneath the pool – the colors of each ties them all together.

The little places across the Pinellas Trail from the Artisan show off several awesome murals as well. Like the Lucky Lobster…

HOB has a new mural which I love – an hip artichoke. With the completion of their new building and deck, they have really decorated with some lovely murals.

Of course, while in Dunedin, you should visit the waterfront down by the marina, the fishing pier, have a beer at one of the seaside restaurants there, or let the kids play in the park. And, naturally, pose for a photo in front of this beautiful Dunedin mural.

Murals by the Marina

Dunedin embraced the little library trend. You can find them throughout the city. This one, at the entrance to John Hubbard Park along the water, pays tribute to Dunedin’s long history with oranges.

Murals South of Downtown Dunedin

One of my favorite murals in Dunedin sits on the back wall of the VFW across from the Blue Jays stadium. The enormous mural pays tribute to our Armed Forces, including Rosie the Riveter.

A new artistic spot in Dunedin, the Dunedin Art Cave, popped up and honestly, I had no idea what this building was until I looked for answers. I love the whimsical nature of the mural outside. Inside (though I haven’t been inside yet) you can find many other works of art.

Dunedin Murals North of Downtown

The Dunedin murals continue north of the downtown area. This one decorates the side of The Seaside Artisan, one accommodation in Dunedin that has been in business for many years and is all but a landmark in town.

This massage business jumped into the mural trend, too, and gives us this simple yet beautiful piece.

Another landmark in Dunedin, Eddie’s Bar and Grill and the Art Smart coffee shop beside it have decorated their walls with numerous murals. While Eddie’s murals follow a certain fun, cartoon style, those at Art Smart span a couple of styles, from the black and white to the art nouveau.

Finally, the postcards from the past at Weaver Park recreate historic photos and postcards from this area.

Tour the Murals of Dunedin

Want to take a tour of the Dunedin murals? Use the two maps below to get around. Though they don’t show each individual mural, those that are located close together are marked by a single number.